Melissa Hemling

I enjoy incorporating quick brain break games into my chemistry classes to keep things exciting. Recently, while brainstorming ways to spice up a lecture on potential energy versus interparticle distance graphs, I stumbled upon a great idea for a brain break: magnetic chess!

March Madness isn't just for basketball fans! With a little twist, Chemistry teachers can bring the excitement of this tournament into their classrooms. In this blog post, I'll outline our annual engaging March Madness-inspired project where students create persuasive presentations on the deadliest chemical elements.

As a chemistry teacher, I am constantly looking for ways to engage my students, promote community building, and reinforce key concepts. One effective way to achieve all these goals is through the use of brain breaks, short activities that provide students with a mental reset while incorporating learning in a fun and interactive manner.

After the 2021 AP Test, I used the movie “Dark Waters” (see video 1) and this PFAS Analysis guided inquiry activity to introduce students to “Forever Chemical” pollutants in the environment (see figure 1).

During the 2020-2021 school year I decided to embark on something new in my AP Chemistry class - AP with WE Service. I have been teaching AP Chemistry for over 11 years. I enjoyed exposing the top students at my school to the rigor of a college-level class, but I had the itch to help my students use their science powers for good.